Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life.
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” John 6:27.
People were looking for Jesus but for the wrong reasons! They only wanted their bellies to become more comfortably full of food.
Some of them had seen Jesus work miracles – physical healings from chronic and indisputable sickness, John 5:1-15; 6:1-2. But they weren’t convinced.
Others saw or heard about Jesus feeding thousands of people sufficiently from just one boy’s small picnic lunch, John 6:3-15. Still they weren’t sure.
One stormy night Jesus’ closest disciples even watched Him walk on the surface waves of the sea of Galilee, John 6:16-21; 6:17-26.
Who was and is this Jesus?
God was definitely special in and around Jesus from Nazareth. But it is NOT the miracles which make Jesus special. Jesus was special in and of Himself! Jesus was, and is, a very special person. Jesus is the way God has expressed Himself to us.
Jesus knew (and spoke) the truth, John 6:26; 6:32; 6:47; 6:53.
Jesus knew (and demonstrated) God at work, John 6:27; 6:29.
Jesus gives a certain type of life to the world, John 6:33. This life does not depend on any physical food or drink, John 6:35. This life can become your life, irrespective of where you were physically born or where you currently live. This life is God’s gift to those He loves and all He chooses, John 6:37-40.
Jesus likens Himself to a loaf of bread, John 6:33; 6:35. He is available to meet the deepest needs of all hungry people. All women and every man, from the youngest baby to the oldest elder, including every world famous megastar and all those individuals whom no-one else has ever noticed. ALL PEOPLE are welcome to meet Jesus and to be satisfied by Him.
The very first people who heard this teaching said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”, John 6:60. The world’s population has been divided ever since!
Today, in Sudan as elsewhere, there are some who believe while others don’t!
Please read John 6:27 again (in red type, below the photos above).
Think: “Which group am I in? Why am I in it? Is it time to change?”
September 2009.